Topic Contents

Wisdom Tooth Problems

Topic Overview

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the upper
and lower third molars, located at the very back of the mouth. They are called
wisdom teeth because usually they come in between ages 17 and
21—when a person is old enough to have gained some wisdom.

What causes problems with wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth that are
healthy and in the right position usually don't cause problems. You may have a problem if any of the following occur:

Your wisdom teeth break through your gums only partway because of a lack of space. This can cause a flap of gum tissue to grow over
them. The flap can trap food and lead to a gum infection.

They come in crooked or facing the wrong direction.

Your jaw
isn't large enough to give them room. Your wisdom teeth may get stuck (impacted) in your jaw and not be able to break through your gums.

They are so far
back in your mouth or crowded that you have trouble cleaning around them.

Most problems with wisdom teeth affect people between
the ages of 15 and 25. People older than 30 usually don't have problems that require
their wisdom teeth to be removed.

How are problems with wisdom teeth diagnosed?

Your dentist will check for signs of a wisdom tooth coming through your gum or crowding
other teeth. You will have
X-rays to find out if your wisdom teeth are
causing problems now or are likely to cause problems in the future.

How are they treated?

Wisdom teeth that cause problems should be removed, or extracted. This can be done by a dentist or an oral surgeon.

The dentist or surgeon will open the gum tissue over the tooth if needed and remove the tooth. Sometimes a tooth will be cut into smaller pieces to make it easier to take out.
After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches.

If you have an infection, you may need to wait until it is gone before you have your wisdom teeth removed. The dentist or surgeon may prescribe antibiotics to help clear up the infection.

While you wait to have the teeth removed, you can take steps to reduce pain and swelling.

Put an ice pack on your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Do not use heat.

Try an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Carefully read and follow the directions. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome, a rare but serious disease.

Don't put an aspirin directly on your gums. Aspirin used in this way can damage your gums.

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